Wyoming Advocates head to the Capitol

Posted by Patti Hazlett on February 13, 2024

Wyoming credit unions gathered today in Cheyenne for the Day at the Capitol events. The morning session included visits from Representative Landon Brown and State Superintendent of Schools Megan Degenfelder, along with presentations of advocacy awards for credit union champions.

Advocate of the Year

Recently retired President and CEO of Meridian Trust FCU, Kim Withers, was recognized as the 2023 Advocate of the Year.

Withers helped champion the state Governmental Affairs Committee, was instrumental in standing up the first State Issues Working Group, brought the Meridian Trust team out in force for advocacy events in the state, and helped elect credit union champions because her team had the highest level in 2023 of CULAC participation. 

Top of the Hill Winners

Top of the Hill winners WyHy and Meridian Trust

The Top of the Hill winning credit unions were also recognized. From their deep engagement in both the Governmental Affairs Committee and State Issues Working Group, dedication to furthering financial education efforts, along with leadership and commitment to CULAC fundraising, both WyHy FCU and Meridian Trust FCU received 2023 Top of the Hill awards.

Special Guests

Rep. Landon Brown

GoWest Chief Advocacy Officer Jennifer Wagner praised Brown’s work on the Transportation Committee and expressed thanks on behalf of Wyoming’s credit unions for his sponsorship of towing notification legislation to help save our credit unions and their members thousands of dollars.

Brown was also credited for helping to move legislation such as electronic titling forward. Wagner noted it will help make credit unions more efficient and be able to nimbly serve people. 

As the group prepared to spend the afternoon at the Capitol, Brown emphasized, “if you do anything today, make sure the policy leaders in this capital recognize that you are cooperatives first. Everyone gets coops in this state, you need to lead with that!”

The Wyoming credit union family with Megan Degenfelder, State Superintendent of Schools

The group also heard from Degenfelder, a credit union supporter and partner in the work of furthering financial education.

In her remarks, she encouraged the work that credit unions are doing to invest in the financial education of their members and communities. Degenfelder also emphasized fostering partnerships and opportunities across the state saying, “….keep doing the financial education with your members and communities and pull your local schools, including school boards, closer to your work in the financial education space.”

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Uncategorized, Wyoming Advocacy.